Desperate Trails Unveiled -- Mila A. Ballentine

 

 

Author: Mila A. Ballentine

Genre: Romance / Suspense / Mystery

Audience: 18 + 

Credits

Cover Artist/Graphic Design: D_Samudu

 Graphic Design: Sachin81

 Cover Concept: Mila A. Ballentine

 

If the opportunity arose, Drew Tanner would probably trade places with just about anyone. He wasn’t a stranger to misery, but he had an unquenchable need for acceptance that spanned his entire childhood leading up to the present. Throughout that time, he saw how elusive and fickle the nature of love could be, and experienced unyielding misfortunes until a newfound friend made those hellish moments somehow bearable.

Despite his new friendship, things at home continue to deteriorate, making it difficult for him to cope with the situation, let alone breathe. But, an opportune moment arises out of his suffering that will potentially change the course of the life he’s known and he’ll have to decide if he wants to continue living this way or choose a new path, a decision that could change his life forever. Whatever he decides, Drew’s life is about to change, and there is no guarantee that his life will change for the better.

 

 

 

 

Mila A. Ballentine is a mystery writer who doesn't shy away from writing about things that grasp the core of her imagination. Her writing is an extension of her mind's eye and there is always an element of truth in each of her books. She studied Creative Writing and Communication Arts at a City University of New York. When she's not writing, she enjoys traveling or doing anything that allows her to put her creative energy to use.

 

In her own words…

My writing style is an extension of my wide-ranging imagination. I try to write my stories as if I have walked in the character’s shoes. Like most of my characters, I have many-sides. I enjoy exploring the struggles, triumphs, and vulnerabilities in their lives. After all, they are an important part of the story. Therefore, I strive to make the reader care about what happens in their lives.

What can you expect from a book written by Mila A. Ballentine?

 “Author Mila A. Balletine’s originality shines through all of her stories. She is creative, adventurous, and honest about everything that goes into the pages of her books. If Mila were to get lost in the woods, she would use her time wisely. Her senses would be alert and her creativity would skyrocket through the roof.  Mila would find a way to write a story on a leaf. Besides Mila being a good author, she is bubbly, outgoing, and extremely shy, but don’t let her coyness fool you.  Her characters are strong, honest, and ready to jump into an adventure without hesitations.” ~ Author S.J. Dennery
  

 

Paperback:

 

 http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Trails-Mila-A-Ballentine/dp/0990919501/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1413869546&sr=8-3&keywords=Desperate+Trails

 

Kindle:

http://www.amazon.com/Desperate-Trails-Mila-Ballentine-ebook/dp/B00OPUZDIA/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1413893828&sr=1-1&keywords=Desperate+trails

Get a copy today!

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You can connect with Mila on the following social media:

Twitter: @Milaaballentine

Facebook.com: https://www.facebook.com/milaballentine

Mila A. Ballentine's Best Sellers & Other Worthy Mentions Tour and Giveaway

**An Award Winning Best Seller**

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Thin Skin Soul Pinned  

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Blurb:

Marie Tousant was an adventurous child, living a happy life until she had an untimely encounter with an entity in her back yard. From then on, she was no longer the same child, but even so, her parents were determined to maintain some sense of normalcy in her life. Although, they soon realized that, that notion did not apply.

Years later, hunting season begins, but Marie is the prey, pursued by practitioners of the dark arts, and they do not intend to let her slip away this time. However, a conflicting power emerges and shares secrets that may save Marie from the grasp of evil. Regardless of the dangers they face, Marie’s allies are willing to protect her; it becomes clear that Marie is in for the fight of her life, and there is no telling if she will come out of this ordeal alive.

 

 

Author Bio

Mila A. Ballentine is a mystery writer who doesn't shy away from writing about things that grasp the core of her imagination. Her writing is an extension of her mind's eye and there is always an element of truth in each of her books. She studied Creative Writing and Communication Arts at a City University of New York. When she's not writing, she enjoys traveling or doing anything that allows her to put her creative energy to use.

What can you expect from a book written by Mila A. Ballentine?

 “Author Mila A. Balletine’s originality shines through all of her stories. She is creative, adventurous, and honest about everything that goes into the pages of her books. If Mila were to get lost in the woods, she would use her time wisely. Her senses would be alert and her creativity would skyrocket through the roof.  Mila would find a way to write a story on a leaf. Besides Mila being a good author, she is bubbly, outgoing, and extremely shy, but don’t let her coyness fool you.  Her characters are strong, honest, and ready to jump into an adventure without hesitations.” ~ Author S.J. Dennery

In her own words…

My writing style is an extension of my wide-ranging imagination. I try to write my stories as if I have walked in the character’s shoes. Like most of my characters, I have many sides. I enjoy exploring the struggles, triumphs, and vulnerabilities in their lives. After all, they are an important part of the story. Therefore, I strive to make the reader care about what happens in their lives.

 

Mila, what was your  motivation for writing Thin Skin Soul Pinned?

 Thin Skin Soul Pinned is based on eyewitness accounts that I've gathered over the years from West Indians who claimed to have had an encounter with the antagonist. This story is a work of fiction intensified by my uncanny imagination, but it is plausible that the antagonist does in fact exist.

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Book Trailer

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*Awards / Recognition *

 

 

Add *Thin Skin Soul Pinned* to your Goodreads TBR List.

 

Download a copy here >>  B&N / Smashwords / Amazon 

 

 

Find Mila on the following websites: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milaballentine

Blog: milaballentine.blogspot.com

 

Tumblr: http://milaballentine.tumblr.com/

 

Twitter: @MilaABallentine

 

 

Enter To Win  

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

~June 16 - June 20~

 

Mystery Spotlight Presents: Drawing Down The Shades by Juli D. Revezzo

 

The Blurb

Business can be hell...

Life is good at Starfort Collectibles until the owners, Caitlin and Trevor Fulmer, acquire a beautiful statuette with a murky past. Shortly thereafter, mysterious hauntings wreak havoc on the couple when a ghost in the attic threatens retribution. Caitlin presses her coven for help before the ghost succeeds in meting out deadly punishment—on Trevor.

 

An Excerpt:

Trevor’s footsteps scuffed across the floor and he greeted the man. The old gentleman turned his attention back to the box, carefully removing the item inside. Caitlin peered over the top of the box curiously.
The man set down a small statuette of a woman, pouring something from a pitcher. Caitlin tipped her head. “That’s lovely, I must say.”
Trevor grunted and leaned forward. “Looks Greek.”
“German actually,” the man said.
“1920’s.”
“1960 give or take.”
Trevor pursed his lips and stepped back from the statuette, eyeing it thoughtfully. “That’s a little outside my range.”
The man pressed, “It’s a find, I can tell you that.”
“Rare?” Trevor asked.
“Oh, yes. One of a kind.”
Trevor glanced at her and back to the customer, holding out a hand. “May I?”
“Go right ahead.” He set the statuette gently—almost lovingly—into Trevor’s hands. “I think you’ll find there’s not a scratch on it. My children are tired of looking at it, you see. They say it gives them the creeps.”
Caitlin raised a brow. “How odd.” The little statuette looked lovely to her.
“Well, they have active imaginations. So here I saw your shop and thought you might have a solution for me.” He touched the statuette as if he didn’t want to part with it. “After I’m gone, I’d like someone to have it who’ll appreciate it.”
Trevor grunted again as he turned the little figure. Caitlin smiled at the man. “I told you, it’s his shop, his expertise.” She winked at Trevor. “I just keep the books.”
Trevor laughed under his breath, studied the item for another moment, and set it down. “It does look in mint condition. Do you have any documentation?”
The man sucked in a quick breath and reached into his coat pocket. A packet slid forth through his old fingers.
Trevor opened the packet, scanned it. He met the man’s gaze, startled, Caitlin thought. “Are you kidding me?”
“What’s the matter, honey?” Caitlin looked from her husband to the customer. When they said nothing more, she glanced over Trevor’s shoulder at the document in his hands. She caught the name Donavon before Trevor’s grip tightened on the form, crumpling the text out of view.
“Not in the slightest,” the man said as if she hadn’t spoken.
“You can’t be him,” Trevor said.
“I assure you, I am.” The man reached a hand into his coat. “Do you need to see my ID?”
Trevor narrowed his eyes. “I thought he’d died. I mean, you. I thought you’d died.”
The man pursed his lips and shook his head. “Not yet.”
“Who did?” Caitlin asked completely confused by this conversation.
“I thought everything she had,” Trevor barreled on, “was in the Museum of Fine Arts.”
The man chuckled to himself. “Not all of it.”
“Are you saying she gave some of the collection to you and you want me to have one?”
“Yes.” The man smiled sadly meeting Caitlin’s gaze directly. “Because I think you and she have more in common than you’d believe.”
Caitlin frowned. What did they have in common with whom? Who was this Donavon person? “Excuse me. What are you talking about?”
Trevor waved a hand. “Forget it, Cait.” He pointed to his office. “Of course we’ll take it. Let me just get some information from you.”
They disappeared into Trevor’s office and Caitlin stared after them, wondering. What in the world was that about?
 

What was that about? I'm curious. Aren't you?

 

About the Author:

Juli D. Revezzo has long been in love with writing, a love built by devouring everything from the Arthurian legends, to the works of Michael Moorcock, and the classics and has a soft spot for classic the "Goths" of the 19th century. Her short fiction has been published in Crossing the River: An Anthology of Sacred Journeys, Dark Things II: Cat Crimes, The Scribing Ibis, Eternal Haunted Summer, Twisted Dreams Magazine and Luna Station Quarterly and Crossed Genres' "Posted stories for Haiti relief" project, while her non-fiction has been included in The Scarlet Letter. She has also, on occasion, edited the popular e-zine Nolan's Pop Culture Review... But her heart lies in the storytelling. She is a member of the Magic Appreciation Tour and Indie Author Network.
 

Drawing Down the Shades purchase links:

 Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Drawing-Down-Shades-Antique-Magic-ebook/dp/B00HMVF2GW/

Amazon.UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Drawing-Down-Shades-Antique-Magic-ebook/dp/B00HMVF2GW/ )

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drawing-down-the-shades-juli-d-revezzo/1117927155?ean=2940148896753
 

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/394274

 

 If Drawing Down The Shades is your kind of mystery, you'll want to check out: The Artist's Inheritance!

 

 

Here's the blurb...

 

The balance between good and evil can be an art... or a curse.

Trevor and Caitlin were once happy newlyweds, profiting from Trevor's art. Until Trevor inherits his brother's house, and with it, his part of a family curse. Now, Caitlin will stop at nothing to save her beloved husband from insanity and suicide, even if it means she must embrace her destiny and become a witch.

Other novels by Juli D. Revezzo:

The Antique Magic series:

Drawing Down the Shades (Antique Magic, book two) Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

 The Artist's Inheritance (Antique Magic, book one) --Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

Caitlin's Book of Shadows (Antique Magic, book 1.5)--Available at 
Amazon and Barnes and Noble

Passion's Sacred Dance-- from The Wild Rose Press, Available at Amazon, All Romance Ebooks,Bookstrand, Itunes, Kobo, and The Wild Rose Press

Murder Upon a Midnight Clear--Available at Amazon
House of Cards (Reign of Tarot #1)--Available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble and Smashwords   

To learn more about this and future releases, visit her at: http://julidrevezzo.com    

Would you like to be the next mystery author featured on Mystery Spotlight?

Contact me via the form on this site. 

Additional details can be found here: Guest Post Your Way Into The Spotlight.

 

 

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On The Isles of Mozambique--- Spotlight Blitz---Book Tour

Book Blurb:

Samira McAllister, an aspiring writer working for The Seasoned Traveler magazine is offered an opportunity. She takes advantage of the chance to jump start her career, hoping to make a mark in the writing industry. 

Unforeseen hurdles threaten her ability to follow through with her plans, and life as she knows it becomes a memory. From that point onward, every choice she makes will seal her fate.

Inquiring minds want to know...

Why should I read On The Isles of Mozambique?

On The Isles of Mozambique is more than a mystery story, it's an intimate look into the life of a young woman with aspirations. Monkey wrenches occasionally find their way into the spokes of one’s life but it’s how the character deals with the situation is what drives On The Isles of Mozambique, a story that illustrates the power of the human spirit when all else fails.

Allow me to lure you into my literary labyrinth.

Available for purchase at

         

You can stalk, I mean follow Me here

               

About the Author

Mila A. Ballentine is a mystery writer who doesn't shy away from writing about things that grasp the core of her imagination. She studied Creative Writing and Communication Arts at a City University of New York. Her writing is an extension of her mind’s eye and there is always an element of truth in each of her books. When she's not writing, she enjoys traveling or doing anything that allows her to put her creative energy to use.

Presented By

Goodbye Reality---A Paranormal Mystery

Genre: Paranormal Short Story

Cover Artist: Mila A. Ballentine

Release Date: July 25, 2013

Here’s the Blurb:

While on a road trip, two friends make a pit stop in a quaint town. They spend more time there than they anticipated. It’s debatable if they’ll ever reach their destination or if they’ll live.

Sometimes road trips can be hazardous to your health.

Links to Goodbye Reality:

Add Goodbye Reality to your TBR list on Goodreads. 

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18241988-goodbye-reality 

Amazon: 

http://www.amazon.com/Goodbye-Reality-ebook/dp/B00E4WYLX2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1374727756&sr=8-1&keywords=%22goodbye+Reality%22

Barnes & Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1116209532?ean=2940148772125

Smashwords:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/340474

HUNTED Cover Reveal

M. Pratwell  Biography

M. Pratwell has always been an avid reader and when her friend, Genevieve Scholl, started publishing books she found that she had the urge to write her own novel. She wasn’t sure if she could do even half as well as Genevieve, but she knew she had to try. With encouragement from Genevieve and their other friend, H.R Hyacinth, she sat down with her Ipad and started typing. At first, it was just a jumble of words that made no sense, but eventually she started to form a mysterious story set in her hometown of Rome, N.Y. She fell in love with the characters and was desperate to solve the case.

Unedited Excerpt of Hunted

The ride along the Erie Canal was smooth and pleasant, save for the slight breeze that blew up from the water and chilled her skin. The leaves on the trees moved in silence, acknowledging the presence of the boat as it passed. Elena touched two of her fingers to her temple, sending Mother Nature and the spirits around her a respectful salute. She had boarded the boat to get away from everyone she knew and clear her head, but she was glad that the spirits had tagged along. They calmed her.

She closed her eyes and listened to the gentle lap of water against the bottom of the boat. The spirits might have calmed her, but she still hadn’t decided what she was going to do about her current situation. How was she going to support another human being, if she couldn’t even support herself? How was she going to tell her parents? They’d likely want her to get an abortion, but there was no way she was going to kill the innocent child that was growing inside of her. If she couldn’t give he or she a good home, then she would find someone who could. She allowed a tear to slip down her cheek; giving the child up for adoption would kill her, but she would do what was best for her baby.

The sound of footsteps behind her jerked her from her thoughts. Swiping the tear from her cheek, she spun around to the person who had just joined her. Dark hair covered his head, the ends lightly touching his jaw as the breeze toyed with the strands. Dark sunglasses covered his eyes and an earring glinted in the sunlight as it peeked between the strands of hair. He was handsome, in a non-conventional way, but Elena couldn’t help the unease that she felt as he continued to stare at her.

“You really shouldn’t be out here on your own,” his gravelly voice said. “You could fall overboard and no one would know it.”

Before she could respond, he moved. Elena barely had time to blink before she felt his hands against her shoulders. Her feet came off of the deck and floated in front of her for a few minutes as the railing dug into her spine. She deeply inhaled to scream, but before any sound could escape, his hands moved to her throat to silence her. The pressure he applied was suffocating and Elena gulped for air. The water beneath the boat suddenly sounded louder than it had before; it roared in her ears like distant thunder. She clawed at her assailant’s throat with her fingernails, but to no avail. The block to her airways was making her dizzy and disoriented. She wasn’t even sure if she had made contact as her arms flung about like two fish out of water.

She gave up and waited for death to come, but just as the darkness started to take over, the pressure on her throat was released. She gulped in confusion, trying to relieve the pain in her lungs. Why had he let go? Had he been scared off? Her answer came in the worst kind of answer as those hands grabbed on to her again and pushed her up and over the railing.

Cover Designer: Genevieve Scholl

My thoughts:

Hunted by M. Pratwell is a mystery that has a plethora of suspense and I look forward to reading it. It should be on every mystery lover's TBR list. 

Genre: Mystery 

Hunted Release Date: August 29^th 2013

AUTHOR EVENT ETIQUETTE

If you’re serious about letting the public know about your book, you should consider attending events that will allow you to showcase your books. Attending author events can be a great way to interact with the public but it’s important to communicate in a manner that will increase the growth of your trade name.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you build a network while interacting with your peers.

Ø  Your interaction with potential customers should be equivalent to your interaction with other authors. They were readers before they became a writer. 

Ø  Always maintain a pleasant face and refrain from excessive staring it can alienate you from your audience.

 

Ø  When interacting at an author’s event, always find a way to engage the audience. You can read an excerpt from your book or simply tell them something interesting about your work.

Ø When you meet a fellow author, never say that you haven’t heard of them. It is considered a cunning way to insult them. This happens more often than you think.  It is important to remember that every encounter is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Refrain from bragging. Don’t get defensive be proactive. Remember everyone is a potential customer. Simply say, “Well you can learn more about me by going to my website or any other relevant source.” Both of you should leave the conversation learning something about the each other.

 

Ø You will meet many wonderful people at these types of events but some will grow on you.  They will exude positive energy, concentrate on what matters and behave in a professional supportive manner. Be sure to get their business cards and promote their works when the opportunity arises.